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Posted 12/2/2018 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
The VA has changed..Just walk into any VA Medical Center, stop at the front desk, get a number, wait until they call your number, do the interview..Bring your DD-214..If you have served in the armed forces, were honorably or medically discharged and your annual income is less than $38K / year (married) more or less, you probably qualify for most benefits, no service connected disability necessary..
Your first appointment will be with your PCP, primary care physician, who will spend an hour with you going over your health history. he / she will then refer you to any needed specialists including an Oncologist who will write any scripts you may need including things like Zytiga and Xtandi, scans, labs, Lupron...Chemo..Your prescriptions all cost the same $8 each. There is no charge for doctor visits, injections or infusions..Usually they send your scripts in the mail (UPS) and you or somebody must be home to sign for them..
Posted 12/2/2018 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, there are a number of us regulars here on the forum who have served in a branch of the U.S. military. And threads involving military subjects, including treatment by the VA, have come up here numerous times in the past.

Me? I was a U.S Army First Lieutenant (ROTC reserve commission), 1968-1970. During 1969-1970 my assignment was Executive Officer, 536th Signal Company, 86th Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Cu Chi Base Camp, South Vietnam.
Posted 12/3/2018 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I am a vet all work done va Sparks Nevada VA SF Calif did the prostrate removal any doctor visit besides your primary care doc. costs 50 bucks my uro&onc are in Palo Alto CA. srt done at Renown in sparks nv.currently on the sexless shot in the gut x 4 years. have 1,897.00 paid out VA has taken care of everything right down to the pads. I can not complain.. NEPOL ....... Fairwind how is Dosetaxel working hope it is kicking butt. Good day to all
Posted 12/3/2018 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
Nepol, Dose worked but not that well.. Now on Cabazitaxel (Jevtana) and it seems to be working much better..I have also had a bone biopsy done (at the VAMC Denver) to get a genetic sample and determine if any of the new immunotherapy's might work.

Some said Caba side-effects would be worse than Dose but so far, that has not been the case..
I'm trying to get someone to try BAT or HDT on me as it seems be having good success with relatively low risk and virtually no nasty side-effects..But all my doctors are shy about doing it's still experimental..
Posted 12/3/2018 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Also a vet but with a large income. Thanks to all for your service. Sorry Nepol for your sexless shot.
Posted 12/3/2018 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
Fairwind--good to hear jevtana is working please tell me/us the genetic out come.maybe a little Keytruda will put the bandit in it's place, old beek---thanks for your thought _____-- it is 10 months from the end of my last 6 month shot --- things are working much better < > >< getting late sleep time .. night to all NEPOL
Posted 12/3/2018 2:04 PM (GMT 0)

81GyGuy said...
Me? I was a U.S Army First Lieutenant (ROTC reserve commission), 1968-1970. During 1969-1970 my assignment was Executive Officer, 536th Signal Company, 86th Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Cu Chi Base Camp, South Vietnam.

Signal corps here too 81G. Stratcom for four years following the 1st draft lottery in 1969.

I have my VA health card and see the PCP annually, but all treatment is outside thru medicare.
Posted 12/3/2018 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have an annual visit with my VA primary care doc, even though I get most of my medical care outside the VA - Dana-Farber for PCa, nearby UMass Medical Center for routine care. If it wasn't a 40 mile drive to Boston I'd gladly transfer all my care to the VA, other than my PCa which I would keep at Dana Farber. I like my VA doc much more than my primary care doc at UMass. If I need expensive treatments - Zytiga etc, -- in the future, Dana-Farber says they will coordinate with VA to save me the large co-pays under my Medicare Advantage plan. I've had excellent care at the VA - vision and hearing tests. Just got a new pair of glasses a couple of weeks ago. The optician saw the frames I was wearing (non-VA) and found me similar even though not on the display wall.

I moved my EpiPen prescription to the VA when the co-pay jumped from $40 to $340 under my Medicare Advantage plan. My cost through VA was $8 and is now $0 since I was re-rated at 100% again-active Agent Orange related PCa. My 100% rating also qualifies me for dental care, which is excellent, cleanings, fillings, periodontist, probable new crown on next visit.

I'm a four year Navy radioman. A year in Vietnam with a 25 man coastal surveillance detachment on an RVN navy base in Danang and two more years in Patrol Squadron 8, an anti-submarine air squadron, out of Maryland and Bermuda.
Jim
Posted 12/3/2018 4:55 PM (GMT 0)

RobLee said...

81GyGuy said...

I have my VA health card and see the PCP annually, but all treatment is outside thru medicare.

Me too. See my PCP at the VA yearly, and spent some time with the Lake Nona VA Hospital radiation oncology department before escaping to Cleveland Clinic for more 'compassionate' care. Thank you TriCare for Life.

USAF and TxANG for ten years, including a year and ~ 200 missions in, and over, Vietnam. My Purple Heart doesn't help much anymore, at the VA.

....and life goes on.
Posted 12/3/2018 7:10 PM (GMT 0)

Bohemond said...
I have an annual visit with my VA primary care doc, even though I get most of my medical care outside the VA - Dana-Farber for PCa, nearby UMass Medical Center for routine care. If it wasn't a 40 mile drive to Boston I'd gladly transfer all my care to the VA, other than my PCa which I would keep at Dana Farber. I like my VA doc much more than my primary care doc at UMass. If I need expensive treatments - Zytiga etc, -- in the future, Dana-Farber says they will coordinate with VA to save me the large co-pays under my Medicare Advantage plan. I've had excellent care at the VA - vision and hearing tests. Just got a new pair of glasses a couple of weeks ago. The optician saw the frames I was wearing (non-VA) and found me similar even though not on the display wall.

I moved my EpiPen prescription to the VA when the co-pay jumped from $40 to $340 under my Medicare Advantage plan. My cost through VA was $8 and is now $0 since I was re-rated at 100% again-active Agent Orange related PCa. My 100% rating also qualifies me for dental care, which is excellent, cleanings, fillings, periodontist, probable new crown on next visit.

I'm a four year Navy radioman. A year in Vietnam with a 25 man coastal surveillance detachment on an RVN navy base in Danang and two more years in Patrol Squadron 8, an anti-submarine air squadron, out of Maryland and Bermuda.
Jim

Thought about Epipen. I was a commercial beekeeper and carried an epipen all the time in case of an emergency sting on someone else. My grandson went into partial shock from a sting at 4 yr old, All old commercial guys carried them in their glovebox. Not exactly recommended at 100 degrees. The factory rep, at a national convention years ago said, as we don't follow directions in storage, disregard the expiration date. If it changes color towards brown, throws out. I would change mine every 5 years only. Have heard of them used at 4 years old with full potency.
Posted 12/4/2018 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
RM-3
USS Paul Revere APA 248 Saigon 1964
USS Page County LST 1076 Da Nang, Chu Lai, Nha Trang 1966
Prostate cancer 100%
MDD 70%
IHD 30%
Tinnitus 10%
SMC
SMC S
Posted 12/5/2018 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
RA drill sergeant!

I have several friends that get all their medical care done by the VA. pretty sure one makes more than $38k
Posted 12/5/2018 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Here is a link that explains VA eligibility in detail..

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/publications/hbco/hbco_enrollment_eligibility.asp
Posted 12/5/2018 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Concerning the first post, I will Add, If you are just starting the process and have your form DD-214, the very first move you should make is head to the VA center or hospital near you and get help from an affiliated organization. . American Legion, DAV, VFW, (I used VFW) They are all there for you.. they usually have a Rep right in the building..they know the protocol, to get you treated and $$ if you qualify.. Ed
Posted 12/5/2018 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your service you active duty guys. Me SGT MOS 13E20 - MA ARNG 1981-1987.

Mike
Posted 12/6/2018 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Fairwind,
I hope you are right about the VA changing. I've been dealing with them for 50 years. I noticed a steep decline starting about 10 years ago. Too much bureaucracy and simple processes become coumbersome and unworkable. Phone calls not returned and follow up of any issue non-existent. Decisions made only after a long approval process.
The issue was never with medial care but the bureaucracy supporting it. I personally would never use the VA for medical care but understand the need of others that don't have that option.
Posted 12/7/2018 6:56 PM (GMT 0)

John T said...
Fairwind,
....I've been dealing with them for 50 years. I noticed a steep decline starting about 10 years ago. Too much bureaucracy and simple processes become coumbersome and unworkable.

The issue was never with medial care but the bureaucracy supporting it.

That has been my experience as well. The government bureaucracy, and employment for life people, including some doctors, make the experience far from reliable. Reasonable care requires tenacity, lots of follow up, and singular attention to detail. It ain't easy, and you usually get what you pay for.
Posted 12/7/2018 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Active duty 5.5 years, 22 years NG and USAR. Two tours in Vietnam Signal Corps serving in III and IV corps. My PCP sent me to a urologist when my PSA rose and he biopsied when it continued to rise. I am a Gleason 6 and in my 4th year of Active Surveillance. The VA has had me in for year checks on the status of my PC. On one of those checks the Dr apparently cured me because he stopped my disability pay and pronounced me cured. Got that cleared up in 3 months with a DBQ from my doctor to include most recent biopsy report. Since then have had one phone annual check and last month a contractor see me for my annual check. Since I have retired pay since age 60 and 100 disability all my pay is tax free, a nice benny but would rather pay taxes and be cancer free.

Between Tricare and Medicare my medical costs are near zero. I get most meds from Express scripts so have recently begun paying the $7 for each 90 day prescription. Pretty sweet.
Posted 12/7/2018 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I am a vet, drafted in the end of 1972. 95B. Spent time on the East Coast before going to Germany to guard Nike missiles. I inquired about VA medical as part of my retirement planning and was denied due to my retirement income. I am retired high school teacher. Who knew we were doing so well?

The only benefit I claim now isn't from the VA but from the state of Montana where Vietnam Era vets get a full tuition waiver at any of our state-run colleges. I am pursuing a degree in Art.
Posted 12/8/2018 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
GO ARMY......BEAT NAVY!!!!!!!
Posted 12/12/2018 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
My husband is a Viet Nam vet who had significant Agent Orange exposure. He applied for and received 100% disability for his Gleason 9 prostate cancer three years ago. His local private urologist, who was excellent, and local radiologist, also excellent, treated him, but my husband checked in with VA as well the first three years. Between the two, my husband got his Lupron shots at the VA while being treated by the outside urologist and radiologist.

After a Lupron hiatus, his PSA started rising. The local urologist recommended going to Mass General to be treated by a prostate cancer oncologist, so that's what's happening now. (Our local hospital in Western MA is a satellite of Mass General.) He's on Lupron again and now gets those shots at Mass General. He's going on Zytiga in January. Problem is, the oncologist doesn't seem to want to be bothered coordinating with the VA to get the Zytiga from the VA.

We'v e upped our Part D coverage to the highest level.We're in the process of trying to find out just how much our Medicare Part D insurance will pay when it starts up in January. The whole thing has suddenly become so confusing. Someone upthread said Dana Farber does this private/VA coordination. Does anyone know if there's a department at Mass General that could handle this? The oncologist was uninterested in moving this forward and doesn't seem to want to discuss this. It's so distressing since my husband is at a critical juncture in his treatment. Right now we can't get the oncologist's coordinator to call us back about booking appointments, let alone get advice about the VA mess. Maybe our insurance will cover all of it but we don't know. She's supposed to be getting permission from our Part D insurance for the Zytiga. It's all so confusing. Any advice or experiences that would be helpful? Thanks in advance.
Posted 12/12/2018 8:10 PM (GMT 0)

spouse21 said...
My husband is a Viet Nam vet who had significant Agent Orange exposure. He applied for and received 100% disability for his Gleason 9 prostate cancer three years ago. His local private urologist, who was excellent, and local radiologist, also excellent, treated him, but my husband checked in with VA as well the first three years. Between the two, my husband got his Lupron shots at the VA while being treated by the outside urologist and radiologist.

After a Lupron hiatus, his PSA started rising. The local urologist recommended going to Mass General to be treated by a prostate cancer oncologist, so that's what's happening now. (Our local hospital in Western MA is a satellite of Mass General.) He's on Lupron again and now gets those shots at Mass General. He's going on Zytiga in January. Problem is, the oncologist doesn't seem to want to be bothered coordinating with the VA to get the Zytiga from the VA.

You may be attacking this backwards.. I am getting RT atUC Davis and Eligard shot at VA.. get hold of VA patient advocate and they will put you in the "choice" program.. this allows you to use VA and private.. The choice program is operated in a way to take care of these kind of debacles. Ed.

We'v e upped our Part D coverage to the highest level.We're in the process of trying to find out just how much our Medicare Part D insurance will pay when it starts up in January. The whole thing has suddenly become so confusing. Someone upthread said Dana Farber does this private/VA coordination. Does anyone know if there's a department at Mass General that could handle this? The oncologist was uninterested in moving this forward and doesn't seem to want to discuss this. It's so distressing since my husband is at a critical juncture in his treatment. Right now we can't get the oncologist's coordinator to call us back about booking appointments, let alone get advice about the VA mess. Maybe our insurance will cover all of it but we don't know. She's supposed to be getting permission from our Part D insurance for the Zytiga. It's all so confusing. Any advice or experiences that would be helpful? Thanks in advance.

Posted 12/13/2018 6:56 PM (GMT 0)

spouse21 said...
Someone upthread said Dana Farber does this private/VA coordination. Does anyone know if there's a department at Mass General that could handle this? The oncologist was uninterested in moving this forward and doesn't seem to want to discuss this. It's so distressing since my husband is at a critical juncture in his treatment. Right now we can't get the oncologist's coordinator to call us back about booking appointments, let alone get advice about the VA mess. Maybe our insurance will cover all of it but we don't know. She's supposed to be getting permission from our Part D insurance for the Zytiga. It's all so confusing. Any advice or experiences that would be helpful? Thanks in advance.

Hi Spouse21. That comment about Dana Farber might have been mine. I'm under treatment there with Firmagon, but not yet with Zytiga, Xtandi or other very expensive treatment. I have talked with my oncologist and nurse practitioner at DF and they tell me they can coordinate with VA and have done so for other patients. I've also asked my VA primary care doc. I only see her once a year to stay eligible for prescriptions, eye exams, etc. and for possible future needs if my PCa treatment gets expensive. She said if/when needed she will refer me to a VA oncologist and if that doctor agreed it is needed, VA would provide Zytiga, etc. Coordination should be simple in that the VA can send the Zytiga directly to your home saving you a monthly trip to their pharmacy. Your Mass General oncologist should only need to know you are getting from the VA rather than from the Mass General or other pharmacy.

I've had no problem coordinating my other care between Dana Farber and my non-VA primary care doctor at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. My UMass doc is able to log in and see my latest test results from Dana Farber. When I had a kidney issue caused by an enlarged lymph node I had a temporary stent done at UMass Medical and blood tests done at my local community hospital, which is part of the UMass system - with test results sent to both my UMass and D-F doctors and reported on the patient access web portals at both UMass and DF. I don't think the VA has that same kind of direct access, if either VA or Mass General needs to exchange any patient records they can do it by fax (yes they still use fax for patient security reasons).

As for coordination - I remember someone posted here a couple of years ago - sorry can't remember who - who was at Mass General and was getting his PCa meds through the VA. And since Dana Farber and Mass General are both parts of Partners Healthcare, I would think that what can be done at one can be done at the other.

I would suggest your husband ask his VA primary care doc about coordinting benefits and also talk to the Mass General businss office - the people you must have seen about insurance, etc. when first becoming a patient. If your Mass General oncologist doesn't want to help with this, I would look for another oncologist either there or at DF and explain up front that you need to coordinate with the VA.
Jim
Posted 12/14/2018 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, Behemond. That's exactly the information I need, especially since you're in Massachusetts. What you described was pretty much what was happening at the local level--husband checking into VA, getting Lupron there, but a private urologist and radiologist made all the treatment decisions and administered treatment. But now that my husband needs a prostate cancer oncologist at Mass General, the coordination broke downl. We are going to see the oncologist's nurse practitioner, whom I called this week, to work this out. Like a lot of people on HW, the insurance side is a full-time job. My husband handles all the VA stuff usually, but since I'm the one involved with Healing Well, I thought I'd ask here. Glad I did. Onward!
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